We hereby present Issue 112 of Rebbe Responsa, a compilation of letters originally authored by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in English, culled from the Rebbe Responsa app.
In this week's issue, titled Strengthening Tznius, we explore the Rebbe's guidance on maintaining Jewish standards of modesty, especially during the summer months when challenges intensify. Through these letters, the Rebbe reveals the profound beauty and strength inherent in tznius. The timing is especially fitting as we read Parshas Balak, where Bilaam's attempted curse transforms into the blessing “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov — “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob.” Our Sages teach that this refers to the tznius of Jewish homes, where entrances don’t face each other to preserve modesty.
This issue also features a remarkable historic discovery: a newly uncovered letter from the Rebbe to President Harry S. Truman on his inauguration day in 1949. Notably, this letter was written two years before the Rebbe assumed leadership. It was previously assumed that the Rebbe started writing letters to presidents later in his leadership, making this discovery all the more significant.
The Rebbe's English letters represent a little-known facet of the Rebbe's Torah, containing profound wisdom and practical guidance expressed in clear, accessible language. We encourage you to download the Rebbe Responsa app, which offers the only comprehensive collection of the Rebbe's English letters available to date. With over 5,000 organized by both topic and date, the app makes finding the Rebbe’s guidance and opinion simple and accessible.
We take this opportunity to urge anyone in possession of English letters from the Rebbe to please consider sharing them with us. Every letter is unique — and may be exactly what someone else needs to see.
The Rebbe Responsa Team
